‘A Co-Produced Conversation about PIE …’
31.01.2020: “Wow”, what a busy two weeks it has been since my last blog post! Whilst I have spent a significant amount of time finishing off the Centrepoint staff Day 1 PIE Training, which commences roll-out across the organisation next Monday, the highlight has actually been a visit to Solihull! Last week I spent several days in this lovely market town outside Birmingham attending the British Psychological Society (BPS) Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) annual conference, where I had the honour of contributing to a wider #homelesspsychology symposium with other leading experts on Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE). Importantly, as PIE is argued to be a ‘co-produced’ endeavour with the users of homeless services, my presentation on Centrepoint’s PIE journey so far was jointly delivered with two of our north ‘PIEineers’ (i.e. current and recently ex-Centrepoint young people); Catherine Geddes and Morgan Noble. This week’s blog is therefore also co-produced with mine and Catherine’s reflections on the event.
Despite the early 5am start my end to travel up from London and the PIEineers similar journey; “we arrived in Solihull after a long journey, nearly got lost (because of Google maps, obviously not my fault; Ha Ha!”, we all arrived excited to present our PIE journey so far; “what an opportunity! Apprehension, excitement and a thirst for knowledge, education and change”. I was very aware that the conference was full of professional and/or academic Clinical Psychologists, and there were very few ‘Experts by Experience’ presenting. However, I was extremely proud of the ‘PIEineers’ who stepped up to speak about their personal experiences of homelessness as well as their contribution to our Centrepoint PIE journey so far (c.f. https://twitter.com/orange_madbird/status/1220062064292651010.).
Interestingly, I think I was probably more nervous than them because I was aware that the PIE work that I have undertaken since I joined Centrepoint is very much ‘standing on the shoulders of the giants’ in this area. And that these clinical psychologists that have taken psychology ‘out of the therapy room’ and have championed a psychologically informed approach to homelessness over the past decade were also presenting as part of the symposium (e.g. Prof. Nick Maguire et al, 2010; https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/187695/1/meeting-the-psychological-and-emotional-needs-of-people-who-are-homeless.pdf; https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/340022/1/Good%2520practice%2520guide%2520-%2520%2520Psychologically%2520informed%2520services%2520for%2520homeless%2520people%2520.pdf; Dr Amanda Skeate: https://stbasils.org.uk/about-us/st-basils-pie/ & Dr Emma Williamson: https://www.aneemo.com/). However, whatever nerves our ‘PIEineers’ had beforehand (“It was quite overwhelming at first being in a room full of experts, but then I remembered that we are Experts by Experience and I started to relax into the day”), they were able to overcome these and spoke with confidence, passion, experience and an honesty that I think everyone in the room was genuinely moved by and inspired to make ‘psychologically informed’ changes in their services.
Consequently, the feedback at the time from those Clinical Psychologists present and subsequently, has been extremely positive. This has served as a reminder of the importance of ‘hearing a range of voices’ and ‘working together’ with the users of the services we provide to ensure that they meet their psychological needs in a meaningful way and bridge the gap between ‘evidence’ and ‘lived experience’. Moreover, whilst it starts with a ‘coproduced conversation’, it doesn’t end there and the conference also featured a presentation about ‘Peer Mentors’, an initiative that values and develops ‘lived experience’ as a genuine support intervention and something that should be considered not just in mental health services but also in homeless services in the future. As our ‘PIEineers’ reflected; “peer mentoring … is something I am extremely interested in bringing in to Centrepoint … I [Catherine] have had experience with using this before, and totally believe and back it as a method for support and change”.
It was also extremely helpful to hear from other charities in the UK on their PIE journey, as learning from and sharing good practice and as well as challenges, gives much ‘food for thought’. Catherine noted in particular “listening to the women from Llamau, a charity based in Wales, who had implemented PIE was really inspiring. Their ideas in the hostels they run, such as no locked rooms and removal of serious notices, seems so simple but creates a massive positive impact on the space and the home that people are living in. it gave me some food for thought about our own hostels in Centrepoint and the small but significant changes we can make”.
When reflecting on the whole conference experience, I think Catherine sums it up perfectly when she says “The theme throughout felt inspiring, that things on the ground level need to change and being in a building full of bright, brilliant and captivating people gave me hope. I truly believe in PIE and this conference absolutely confirmed that. The themes that came out for me, and perhaps I was seeking, that people with multiple disadvantages need, to put it simply, more help. PIE is the framework I can see formulating this change. [Seeing] the individual, not just ‘homeless’, not just damaged. But as human beings with aspirations, hopes and fears. Investment in people is vital”.
Consequently, whilst “times are frustrating, scary and isolating for most, change is coming”, I believe that with the support that organisations like Centrepoint can offer, it is young people like Catherine, Morgan and our other ‘PIEineer’s and young people in Centrepoint that will bring about that change. Whilst Catherine commented that “Helen is fierce [and] inspiring and I am humbled to be collaborating with her”, I would argue that what I reflected upon post-conference was that it was me that was inspired and humbled by her and Morgan. Particularly, their courage to stand up and speak out about their stories and experiences (even when emotionally challenging and still ongoing), to give up their valuable time, and their “purpose and belief” that we can, together with PIE, #changethestory for homeless young people in the UK and even #endyouthhomelessness altogether. Thank you both, for reaching out and ‘bridging that gap’, for trusting me and taking that chance, and I look forward to where our PIE journey takes us next …
